When writing a work of fiction that is allegorical in design how far may the author stray from the truth?
More particularly how close to the truth should the Story of Sam Goma stray from the regular teachings of acceptable doctrine?
So what is the problem? Well Sam is a witch doctor. He declares that what the missionaries told him was unacceptable to him. He was looking for the spiritual side of his nature to be relevant for his current and present situation. Stories of ancient history that did not repeat in today’s world – unacceptable – so where is faith and hope. We understand faith to be the stuff that makes unseen things real today and hope is the stuff that makes future things real today. History is not unseen nor future (except when it is repeating itself). More specifically are the miracles such as walking on water and healing the sick and ascending up into the heavens part of these things “greater things than this shall you do”? I see no reason why not. It is these sorts of miracles that demand faith. Certainly the children of Israel looked back at the past and drew their faith from history – the works of Moses and the like. The new testament faithful look forward for their hope and at today’s activities for to exercise their faith or not?
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About Me
- NewRayTech
- I write as a hobby and developing software was how I earned a living before retirement. I prefer the challenge of writing multi-purpose (generic) code. I am a long duration project person - so management of people has no appeal. My six grandchildren are really important to me, but please don't tell their parents. Okay, they're important too. I started writing after my youngest son contracted encephalitis. This resulted in severe brain damage. I wanted to create a website to discuss his problem, but the research that I did ended up as a book of fiction - science fiction. I suppose I managed my emotions through writing especially after of about five years of severe disability, he passed away.